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New Democratic Party
Leader: Jack Layton
http://www.ndp.caSo, what's this party all about? This Party Profile gives you all the info you need, from a description of the party to a summary of their policies. If you like what you see, visit their website for more information.
We assembled the content for this profile from the sources listed at the bottom of the page. If you notice any incorrect information or have any questions, please get in touch with us using our contact us form. We (heart) feedback.
The NDP, led by Jack Layton since 2003, fall to the left of the political spectrum. They tend to favour a larger role for government in the economy, more government-funded social programs, and progressive social policies.
The roots of the NDP lie in the late 1950’s, when the Canadian Cooperative Federation (the major left-leaning party of the day) began co-operating with the Canadian Labour Congress. By 1961, the CCF-CLC alliance produced the New Democratic Party, with Saskatchewan's CCF Premier, Tommy Douglas, becoming the party's first national leader.
The NDP's period of greatest success was under the leadership of Ed Broadbent (1975-1989), when they elected a record 43 MPs in the 1988 election. The NDP’s support declined in the 1990s after Broadbent left, with the party winning only 9 seats in the 1993 election. Since that time, the NDP have worked to regain support, and they won 37 seats in the 2008 election.
The NDP has never formed the federal government, but they've had substantial influence on policy. As members of the opposition, the NDP successfully convinced Lester B. Pearson's Liberal government to introduce universal healthcare in the 1960s. The NDP also held the balance of power during the early 1970’s under David Lewis, which gave them substantial influence over Pierre Trudeau’s Liberal government. During that time, the NDP supported the introduction of a national affordable housing strategy, a new Elections Expenses Act, and the creation of Petro-Canada.
The Policies and Priorities section was last updated in March, before the 2011 federal election was called. As you may know, candidates and parties make lots and lots (and lots) of promises during elections. So many, in fact, that we can't keep up with them. This Party Profile is a general summary. Get the most up-to-date platforms and information straight from the party's mouth here.
| Issue Area | Policy | Source |
| Accountability and Transparency | Strengthen the Access to Information Act and tighten lobbying rules. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 40) |
| Put an end to political patronage appointments. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 40) | |
| Make the Parliamentary Budget Officer an independent officer of Parliament. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 40) | |
| Strengthen contracting rules to limit corporate influence over policy | 2008 Platform Document (Page 40) | |
| Agriculture | Reduce imbalance between producers and agri-business, implement income stabilization programs. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 14) |
| Entrench the Canadian Wheat board. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 14) | |
| Promote organic farming, protect and continue agricultural subsidies. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 14) | |
| Arts and Culture | Refocus the CRTC to concentrate on protecting Canadian cultural industries exclusively. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 36) |
| Sustain funding for Canadian film and television. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 36) | |
| Restore arts funding and ensure stable funding for CBC/Radio-Canada. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 36) | |
| Broadcasting and Telecommunications | Strengthen the Competition Act and the regulatory powers of the CRTC, the Competition Bureau and the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 37) |
| Refocus the mandate of the CRTC to promote and protect Canadian cultural industries. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 37) | |
| Childcare | Establish a nation-wide child care program. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 17) |
| Create Children's Nutrition Initiative to provide healthy meals to school children. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 17) | |
| Copyright Legislation | Ensure that copyright reform compensates artists and includes input from all groups. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 37) |
| Corporate Taxes and Subsidies | Restore uniform 22.12% tax rate. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 11) |
| End tax breaks for tar sands and oil companies. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 11) | |
| Eliminate corporate offshore tax evasion. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 11) | |
| Recover unpaid loans and taxes from companies doing business with government. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 11) | |
| Crime and Justice | 2,500 new police officers. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 31-33) |
| Focus on fighting cybercrime. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 31-33) | |
| Strengthen witness protection. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 31-33) | |
| Fight white-collar and gang-related crime. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 31-33) | |
| Allow for regional absolute bans on handguns. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 31-33) | |
| More effective prison and sentencing to reduce repeat offenders. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 31-33) | |
| Defence and National Security | Three main priorities: assist in natural disaster zones, peace-making and peace-keeping, and defending Canada from attack. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 44) |
| Withdraw Canadian combat troops from Afghanistan, follow through on development assistance comittment made through Afghanistan Compact. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 44) | |
| Support veterans and their families. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 44) | |
| Democratic Reform | Supports proportional representation. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 40) |
| Abolish the Senate by referendum. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 40) | |
| Ban MPs from crossing the floor without calling a by-election. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 40) | |
| Economy | Promote green jobs fund of $750 million. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 11-12) |
| Fight the export of jobs from Canada. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 11-12) | |
| Invest 1% of GST in Canadian cities and communities. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 11-12) | |
| Re-establish the National Minimum Wage at $10 indexed to inflation. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 11-12) | |
| Education | Keep post-secondary education affordable by negotiating with provinces. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 15-17) |
| Reform the student loan system and interest relief program. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 15-17) | |
| Increase funding for university and college-based research. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 15-17) | |
| Commit to goal of a fully literate Canada. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 15-17) | |
| Environment | Recommit to Kyoto level reductions of greenhouse gases. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 25-28) |
| Put price on carbon through a "cap-and-trade" system. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 25-28) | |
| Create $3 billion Green-Collar Jobs Plan, which includes providing clean drinking water for all Canadians. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 25-28) | |
| First Nations and Northern Communities | Invest $5 billion in First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 35) |
| Address needs of urban First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 35) | |
| Provide infrastructure to First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities to help build local economies. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 35) | |
| Ensure Residential School survivors are fairly compensated. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 35) | |
| Respects right of self-government. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 35) | |
| Ratify UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 35) | |
| Fiscal Policy | Maintain balanced budgets each year of mandate. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 11) |
| Ensure that the Parliamentary Budget Officer is independent. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 11) | |
| Review how banks, insurance and other financial services are regulated. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 11) | |
| Fisheries | Ban high seas drag nets. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 15) |
| Tough regulations for aquaculture. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 15) | |
| Hire more fisheries officers and update Fisheries Act. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 15) | |
| Ban oil tankers from BC's inland coast and oil exploration in Gulf of St. Lawrence and off BC to protect fish stocks. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 15) | |
| Food Safety | Increase number of food inspectors. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 13) |
| Increase food standards to match that of EU. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 13) | |
| Improve food recall system. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 13) | |
| Require labeling of genetically modified foods | 2008 Platform Document (Page 13) | |
| Foreign Policy | Participate in efforts to bring peace to Darfur, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Middle Eastern region. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 32) |
| Reestablish Canada as a global peace and disarmament leader. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 32) | |
| Live up to Millennium Development goal of 0.7% of GDP used for aid. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 32) | |
| Gun Control | Allow regions to ban all handguns and support the gun registry. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 32) |
| Facilitate Canada-US Summit of law makers and law enforcement to crack down on gun smuggling. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 32) | |
| Healthcare | Reduce healthcare waits by training 28,000 more medical professionals. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 21-23) |
| Stop the privatization of Canadian health care services. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 21-23) | |
| Create a pan-Canadian home care program | 2008 Platform Document (Page 21-23) | |
| Create Canada-wide prescription drug plan | 2008 Platform Document (Page 21-23) | |
| 1% of Heath Canada budget for fitness and amateur sports | 2008 Platform Document (Page 21-23) | |
| Immigration | Accelerate recognition of foreign credentials | 2008 Platform Document (Page 38-39) |
| Increase resources to immigration to deal with application backlog. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 38-39) | |
| Regulate immigration consultants. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 38-39) | |
| Create a refugee appeal division. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 38-39) | |
| North American Trade and Integration | Make energy security/environmental standards priority in trade negotiations | 2008 Platform Document (Page 37) |
| End US-Canada softwood lumber agreement. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 37) | |
| Renegotiate unfavourable chapters of NAFTA. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 37) | |
| Change NAFTA's dispute resolution mechanisms. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 37) | |
| Nuclear Energy | End tax breaks for nuclear energy. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 27) |
| Poverty | Eliminate poverty by 2020. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 18) |
| Create new Child Benefit - expand to $5,000 a year per child. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 18) | |
| Eliminate provincial claw-back of Child Supplement Benefits. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 18) | |
| Incentives to make everyday Canadians more energy efficient - reduce energy costs. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 18) | |
| Promotes $10 minimum wage linked to inflation and EI reforms. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 18) | |
| Quebec Sovereignty | Recognize Quebec as a nation, unique role and responsibilities of the National Assembly | 2008 Platform Document (Page 38) |
| Same-Sex Rights | Support same-sex marriage and the inclusion of minority sexual orientation rights in the Canadian Human Rights Act. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 41) |
| Science and Technology | Increase university-based research, promotion of Canadian research and development | 2008 Platform Document (Page 11,16) |
| Ensure that foreign takeovers of Canadian companies respect job protection and promote research and development in Canada. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 11,16) | |
| Senior and Low-Income Citizens | Protect seniors from identity theft. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 18,19, 21) |
| Provide non-profit and co-op housing to families and individuals, including students and seniors. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 18,19, 21) | |
| Expand homecare program. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 18,19, 21) | |
| Invest in community, recreation, and seniors centres. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 18,19, 21) | |
| Provide incentives so low income families and seniors can become more energy efficient. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 18,19, 21) | |
| Women's Rights | Ensure women have access to safe abortions. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 41) |
| Give domestic violence cases higher priority within the justice and councilling fields. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 41) | |
| Encourage more women to run for office. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 41) | |
| Encourage equal pay for women. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 41) | |
| Fund Status of Women Canada and reopen their offices. | 2008 Platform Document (Page 41) |
New Democratic Party - The Canadian Encyclopedia
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation - The Canadian Encyclopedia
NGOs
NGO - three letters you might have seen tossed around that seem to be doing something, but what? NGO stands for Non-Governmental Organisation, which means a non-profit group or association that acts outside of institutionalised political structures.
Bill Tracking Database
The Great Bill Tracking Database. Great resources on keeping track of Bills.
